Hopper-feeding device for gas-producers.



UNITED STATES Patented May 31, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, OF

PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

HOPPER-FEEDING DEVICE FOR GAS-PRODUCERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,081, dated May 31, 1904. Application filed February 7, 1902- Serial No. 92,964. (No model.)

To aIZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J OHN KNOX, a citizen of the- United States, and a resident of Edgewood, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hopper- Feeding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby a uniform feeding of the coal to the gas-generating chamber of a gas producer or other apparatus may be brought about. To this end I provide a hopper leading into the top of the gas-producing chamber, and below the mouth of the hopper I provide a movable disk, together with means for tilting the edge of the disk progressively in a given direction, the result being that the coal which rests upon the disk is fed uniformly into the gas-producing chamber, whereby an even distribution of the coal in the chamber takes-place and the combustion of fuel goes on and under the most advantageous conditions.

The described'device can be used for feeding any material whatsoever which it is desired to spread more or less evenly after it is delivered through the mouth of the hopper.

In carrying out my invention I also provide means whereby the rapidity with which the coal is fed may be regulated through controlling the distance at which the disk stands below the mouth of the hopper and also means for regulating the degree of libration or tilting given to the disk in its operation.

The described libration of the disk and the consequent feeding of the coal are the result of the continuous operation of the motor-shaft acting through suitable intermediate devices upon the disk and its'connections. The-several adjustments are easily made, and the entire apparatus is simple in its operation and comparatively free from the danger of getting I out of order.

My invention will be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section through a hopper having my improvements mounted thereby means of the different-sized on, the hopper itself being supported upon the top of a gas-prod ucer or other apparatus. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views.

In the drawings, 1 represents the top plate of a gas-producer or other apparatus,on which is mounted a hopper 2, provided with the usual covered chute or inlet 3. On the top plate 4 of the hopper is mounted a frame 5, inone part of which is journaled a horizontal driving-shaft 6 and in another part of which is journaled a vertical driving-shaft 7. The shaft 6 may be itself driven from a suitable motor and may be provided with means for operating it at different speeds, as illustrated, pulleys 8, 9, and 10. 1

On the shaft 6 is a bevel-wheel 11, which gears with a similar Wheel 12, secured to the vertical shaft 7. Below the journal of the shaft 7 the latter is formed into a crank 13, which terminates in a yoke 60, having arms 61 62, in one of which is formed a curved slot 14.. The yoke referred to embraces a spool or sleeve 17, which is loosely mounted upon the upper end of a rod or shaft 18. A studbolt 15, provided with a binding-nut l6,passes through the slot 14 and serves as a means of connection between the yoke 60 and the sleeve 17 By loosening the nut 16 any desired adjustment within the limits of the slot 14 can be secured between the sleeve 17 and the yoke 60, after which the connection may be fixed by tightening the said nut.

A portion of the rod or shaft 18 is screwthreaded, and upon the screw-threaded part are mounted nuts 19 and 20, provided, respectively, with hand-wheels 21 and 22 for adjusting the said nuts. The nut 19 serves as a binding-nut for holding the nut 20 rigidly in place when it has received the proper adjustment.

The lower end of the nut 20 is curved to correspond to the curve of a bearing 23, formed in the top plate 1 on thehopper 2. The purpose of this will be set forth later on.

On the lower end of the rod or shaft 18 is rigidly mounted a spider 24, having in the present instance three arms, with eyes at their outer ends for making connection with eyebolts 25 25 25 at the top of links, suspensionrods, or connecting-rods 26 26 26. These links are similarly connected to eyebolts 27 27 27, secured to a disk 28 below the mouth of the hopper 2, The links 26 pass through eye bolts or slottedlugs 29, projecting from the inner face or wall of the hopper 2, and are adapted to reciprocate within the eyes or slots. As shown in the drawings, these slots are made convex on the inside, so as to allow for the tilting of the links or rods 26 without permitting too greatlateral movement thereof. The same shape for a similar reason is given to the opening in the top plate 4, through which the rod or shaft 18 passes.

Thedisk 28 is curved upon its upper side, so as to create a tendency for the coal resting on the disk to slide toward the edges thereof.

It is evident that with the construction shown the disk 28 does not rotate; but the libration of the disk causes an even feeding of the material from the mouth of the hop per, such libration resulting fromthe rotation of the shaft 6, and the vertical shaft 7, with the crank 13, as described, causes a continuous shifting of the angular position of the rod or shaft 18 throughout the circumference Ora circle. Inasmuch as the sleeve 17 loosely surrounds the rod or shaft 18 the latter does not rotate, although, as has been described, its angular position shifts, thereby causing a progressive lifting or lowering of the respective arms of the spider24. This results in a libration or progressive tilting of the disk 28. A convenient number of arms to employ for causing this progressive tilting is three; but the number may be varied at will.

In the described operation of the feeding de- .vice the nut 20 acts, in conjunction with the bearing 23, as a swivel-joint, permitting the shifting of the angular position of the rod or shaft18, as described.

In orderto adjust the position of the disk 28 higher or lower under the mouth of the hopper 2, it is only necessary to relieve the nuts 19 and 20 and .thesleeve 17 and then to fix them again on the shaft 18, so as either to raise or lower the said shaft, as the case may be. The vertical position of the disk 28 will be correspondingly altered.

In orderto adjust the degree to which the disk is tilted at each rotation of the crank 13, it is only necessary to suitably adjust the lateral\ position of the set-screw 15 Within the slot 14.

To prevent twisting of the links,-suspension-rods, or connecting-rods 26 26 by reason of the friction of the driving parts, I locate a fixed arm 63 close to one of the arms of the spider 24 in such a position as to resist the moving of the upper ends of the links or rods in the direction toward which they might naturally be moved without such barrier.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a feeder for gas-producers or other apparatus, a hopper and a disk located below the mouth thereof, in combination with a series of links or connecting-rods supporting the said disk outside the center thereof, and means for successively elevating and depressing the said links or connecting-rods.

2. The combination with a hopper and a disk located below the mouth thereof, of a flexible support for the said disk, consisting of a series of links attached to the disk outside the center, a shifting support for the links, and means for varying progressively the angular position of thesaid support.

3. The combination with a hopper and a disk located below the mouth thereof, of driving mechanism operating the said disk, and intermediate devices consisting of a spider connected to the disk by parallellinks or connecting-rods, the arrangement being such that the movement of the spider successively operates the links or connecting-rods in a vertical direction but still parallel to each other, producmg a similar parallel movement in the suspended disk.

4:. The combination with a hopper and a disk located below the mouth thereof, of a spider joined to the disk by parallel links or connecting-rods, and means for successively lifting and depressing the arms ofthe spider and the links or connecting-rods attached thereto, thereby causing a similar parallel movement of the suspended disk.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 6th day of February, A. D. 1902.

WILLIAM JOHN KNOX. 

